Quarterly Financial Data (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	$ 1,655,851	$ 2,013,942	$ 1,792,676
Operating Income (Loss)	34,829	74,473	73,913
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(24,259)	4,728	(9,862)
Net loss attributable to Crosstex Energy, Inc.	(12,481)	(6,007)	(11,651)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ (0.26)	$ (0.12)	$ (0.24)
First Quarter [Member]
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	371,709	489,770
Operating Income (Loss)	22,074	19,238
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,594	1,770
Net loss attributable to Crosstex Energy, Inc.	(825)	(1,536)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ (0.02)	$ (0.03)
Second Quarter [Member]
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	351,194	525,735
Operating Income (Loss)	18,381	22,243
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(530)	2,648
Net loss attributable to Crosstex Energy, Inc.	(1,672)	(1,073)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ (0.03)	$ (0.02)
Third Quater [Member]
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	406,968	517,498
Operating Income (Loss)	899	15,612
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(10,240)	(364)
Net loss attributable to Crosstex Energy, Inc.	(4,314)	(1,588)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ (0.09)	$ (0.04)
Fourth Quarter [Member]
Interim Period, Costs Not Allocable [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	525,980	480,939
Operating Income (Loss)	(6,525)	17,380
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(17,083)	674
Net loss attributable to Crosstex Energy, Inc.	$ (5,670)	$ (1,810)
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	$ (0.12)	$ (0.03)